Consumer Reports: Get your car fixed for free

Consumer Reports: Get your car fixed for free

Nothing's more frustrating to a car owner than a vehicle whose paint starts peeling or whose roof is leaking just a few years after leaving the dealer's lot, says Consumer Reports. Having to make expensive, post-warranty repairs sends a signal to consumers that says: You're getting ripped off.

Fortunately, you can often save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair bills by taking advantage of special, unadvertised automaker programs that provide free or discounted service work. Though manufacturers often call these programs service actions or customer satisfaction campaigns, many people refer to them as secret or hidden warranties because they're rarely announced to the public.

Two examples: Owners of 2006 to 2009 Honda Civics may qualify for a free engine block, or even a new engine, if their car has been leaking coolant from a crack in the block. Chrysler minivan owners may notice that the front wheel bearings on models from 2008 to 2010 are subject to premature wear, so dealers will replace them for free during a vehicle's first five years or 90,000 miles.

How do these "secret warranties" come about? They usually originate when automakers discover that some component or system in a given model is failing at a greater rate than expected. They learn about the problems from numerous sources, including complaints to their customer service departments and reports from dealers.

Programs that offer subsidized or free repairs are usually presented as a "warranty extension," since they last for a specified time and mileage. Occasionally, they're good for a limited number of years from the original purchase date but have no mileage limit. They're often enacted in the name of good customer service. Sometimes, though, a free repair program is instituted as part of the settlement of a class-action lawsuit brought by consumers.

How SecretAre Secret Warranties?

Often, when an automaker initiates a service campaign, it sends a notification letter to all known owners. But second or third owners of that car may not receive it. Even among those who do, the letter may be mislaid or mistakenly thrown away. In other cases, though, there is no advance notice, and car owners find out about it only if a dealer tells them or they discover it on their own.

All of the warranty extensions Consumer Reports found were included in technical service bulletins that automakers send to their dealers' service departments. TSBs usually describe a common problem the automaker has learned about and provide detailed instructions on how the service technician should fix it. But a small number of TSBs also contain information about special warranties related to the problem or other remedies the carmaker is offering to owners.

If your car develops a notable problem that's not connected to wear and tear or collision damage, it might be worth checking whether there's a TSB related to it. Even if no warranty extension is offered, a TSB tells you that the problem is well-known to the automaker, which could give you more leverage in negotiating a discount on the repair.

Where To Learn More

Technical service bulletins can be hard to come by. You can search for free summaries of them at safercar.gov, the government's auto-safety website. Enter your car's make/model/year in the "Owners" section, and click on the "Service Bulletins" tab. But be warned, the summaries are often vague. You can order the full TSB text (free up to 100 pages) by mail, though that may take four to six weeks. However, a dealer or repair shop may share them if you ask. You can also purchase current TSBs for your car from Alldatadiy.com or Mitchell 1 DIY at eautorepair.net.

You can find more information about auto repairs and maintenance on Consumer Reports' website. Also, go to ConsumerReports.org/carrecalls to check recalls on your car with plain-English interpretations prepared by certified mechanics.